5 of the best character reinventions in WWE history 

#2 The Ringmaster to Stone Cold Steve Austin

WHAT WHAT WHAT

Stone Cold Steve Austin, the poster boy of the infamous Attitude Era and the man partially responsible for WWE winning the Monday Night Wars, which resulted in the death of WCW.

Austin competed in World Championship Wrestling as "Stunning" Steve Austin from 1991 until he was fired by Eric Bischoff in 1995 because he wasn't viewed as a marketable wrestler. In WCW, Austin sported flowing blonde hair to match his "Stunning" moniker.

After his WCW departure, Austin joined ECW, which was run by Paul Heyman. His tenure in the promotion helped him develop the 'Stone Cold' character. In 1996, he made his WWE debut as The Ringmaster on an episode of RAW. Austin was managed by "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and he was bestowed the Million Dollar Championship.

EVERYONE mentioned this HISTORIC promo @SteveAustinBSR cut on @JakeSnakeDDT after his review tweet🔥 What an EPIC passing of the Torch!🔥Steve was spitting BULLETS in this! GOOD GAWD What a MEAN "SOMBITCH"! The OG Snake to the TX Rattlesnake!🐍💥#ResurrectionOfJakeTheSnake💎DDP pic.twitter.com/tZ7VklKYQa

— Diamond Dallas Page (@RealDDP) July 13, 2020

After his partnership with DiBiase dissolved, Austin went through a significant character change. He shaved his head bald, grew a goatee, became a foul-mouthed beer-drinking wrestler who drove his boss crazy. As "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, he gained mainstream popularity and success.

Austin won the 1996 King of the Ring tournament by defeating Jake Roberts in the finals. After the match, Austin made the popular "Austin 3:16" speech that is still talked about to this day.

Stone Cold becomes WWE's top Superstar

WWF Wrestlemania 14 (1998) - Mike Tyson + Stone Cold Steve Austin pic.twitter.com/hSMlwNUAv5

— ֆȶɨʟʟ (@illroots) December 29, 2014

In 1998, Austin won the Royal Rumble match and defeated Shawn Michaels to win the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 14. He held the WWE Title six times, Intercontinental Championship twice and the Tag Team Championship four times.

Austin is one of the most popular Superstars in pro wrestling history. In an interview with Off the Record with Michael Landsberg in 2004, Vince McMahon stated:

“He [Austin] surpassed all of [Hulk] Hogan's records... in terms of merchandising and licensing, and pay-per-view and live events. Without question the most popular performer we've ever had.”

Austin has starred in various movies, shows, main evented several WrestleManias and he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009. His last in-ring bout was against The Rock at WrestleMania 19. Speaking of The Rock...